Mai Vuong

Mai Nguyet Vuong Ta

March 29, 1943 - September 25, 2024

In Loving Memory of Mai Vuong Ta 黃月梅

Born in Saigon, Vietnam on March 29th, 1943, Mai Vuong Ta 黃月梅 began her journey through life. Mai was the only child of Dinh Vuong 黃定平 from Guangdong Province, China.

Just like her mother, Mai was very hard-working, vibrant, and had a strong personality. With that mindset, she raised her five children to be full of life, driven, ambitious, and successful.

Mai married her husband, Hao Ta 熊継潮 when she was 21, and together, they had 5 children. Mai and her husband were greatly respected in their business of selling imported wine. She held down the fort, taking care of five kids and maintaining the business while her husband was away. At the end of the Vietnam War, their beloved city of Saigon was taken over by the Communist regime, changing their life journey forever. Under Communist rule, their assets and money were seized, and their way of life was under constant pressure. Mai and Hao decided that the only way to provide a promising future for their family was to escape Vietnam. Unfortunately, in an attempt to escape, they were caught, and her husband was sentenced to prison for two years. With her husband away she managed to provide and care for her family until his return. After her husband returned, they planned another escape out of the country. To make their escape possible they decide to escape separately. Hao with 3 children (Joan, Linda & David) escaped up north and finally landed in Macau refugee camp while Mai with 2 children (Jane & Richie) waited until she knew her husband had made it out and was safe. She began her escape by smuggling onto a cargo ship out of the country and was ultimately stranded near Malaysia where she and two kids were rescued. They stayed in a refugee camp for more than a year before they were accepted into the U.S. In 1980 Mai and Hao were reunited in the city of San Bernardino, CA. She and her husband worked hard to support their family. After her husband lost his job they decided to relocate to Tulsa, OK in the summer of 1983 for better opportunities.

When Mai arrived in Tulsa, she found a job working in the marble factory and continued managing her housewife duties and providing for her children. After many years working in the marble factory, they were able to save enough money to start their own restaurant, Lai Lai, in the city of Sapulpa. Working by her husband’s side, she was able to support her husband in their business and soon it was successful. After many years of hard work, Mai was finally able to relax and enjoy the fruits of her labor. Unfortunately, she had a stroke that left her left side paralyzed at the age of 54. Even with such a tragic event in her life, she didn't give up and still strived to live her life.

Mai had taught her children the value of hard work to be relentless and strive for the best. She also provided them with valuable support that impacts every single member of the Ta family today. Through all of the years of her hard work, she managed to prioritize job and quality time with her family. Mai was the support for her family in many ways. She had self-taught herself in home cooking and passed her skills down to many of her children. She was a remarkable woman. People respected Mai because of her accomplishments and responsibilities to her husband and her family.

Even after her husband's passing in November of 2022, Mai remained strong. She passed away peacefully in Garden Nursing Home in the afternoon of Wednesday, September 25, 2024. In her last moments, Mai had her children by her side. Mai left behind her five children and her many grandchildren. No words can truly express the greatness and honor Mai possessed but her legacy will live on forever through everyone she's touched.

Rest in peace Mrs. Mai Vuong Ta, you will be missed by so many people who adore you!

A memorial service will be held on September 29th (10am-8pm) for viewing at Schaudt's Tulsa Funeral Home 5757 S. Memorial Dr., Tulsa, OK 74145. (918) 523-5757. A ceremony will also be held on September 30th (10am-2pm) at Schaudt’s Tulsa Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa.

Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt's Tulsa Funeral Service at 5757 South Memorial Drive, Tulsa, OK 74145. Family and friends may leave kind words of comfort, special memories and condolences to the family online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com